The Baggies rounded off pre-season in style as they secured a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a fine sunny afternoon. Aune Heggebø and Barney Stewart got the goals to seal a positive end to their preparations ahead of the new campaign.
The game also saw the debut of Nolan Galves, who signed a four-year deal from French side Rodez AF earlier in the week. Fans were also pleased to see the return of Conor Townsend, who made his comeback appearance as a second-half substitute.
The visitors made a bright start to the encounter and could have taken the lead three times within the opening 13 minutes. Jayson Molumby saw a goal-bound effort from inside the area blocked by a Posh defender, before Ousmane Diakité’s powerful 25-yard strike took a deflection and went narrowly wide. Isaac Price then came close, curling an effort from the left side of the box straight into the gloves of home goalkeeper Alex Bass.
Nolan Galves, making his first appearance for his new club, was heavily involved during the opening period. His teasing delivery from the right wing picked out former Peterborough forward JJ Morgan at the back post, but his header from a tight angle drifted narrowly wide midway through the half.
Shortly after, Galves found space on the edge of the penalty area and drilled a dangerous ball across the face of goal. However, neither Heggebø nor Price could get the decisive touch, and the two sides went into the break level.
The Baggies did not have to wait long for the breakthrough after the interval — just three minutes, in fact. The ball was worked out to the left wing, where Isaac Price delivered a pinpoint cross into the path of Heggebø at the near post, with the Norwegian striker finishing expertly on the volley.
The Northern Ireland international then tried his luck from distance after Diakité won possession on the halfway line, with Price driving a low effort towards goal. However, Bass was equal to it and made a comfortable save.
But Albion would double their advantage with 19 minutes remaining. Two second-half substitutes combined, as Mikey Johnston drove forward before finding Stewart on the right side of the box, who calmly slotted the ball into the far bottom corner.
The summer signing from Falkirk should have added a second goal inside the final seven minutes. Alex Mowatt delivered a superb cross from the left, but Stewart was unable to steer his header on target.
A 2-0 win it was that made the Baggies win three in three games in Pre-Season despite a 3-1 defeat to Notts County behind closed doors last weekend but was a second-team as our first team played at Shrewsbury in a 4-1 win.
Peterborough United 0-2 West Brom
Goalscorers for West Brom: Aune Heggebø, Barney Stewart
A victory for the Baggies in the last Pre-Season friendly as they go into their first competitive fixture next weekend to Rotherham in a Carabao Cup first round fixture at 17:30PM before we then take on Norwich in our first league game of the season at Carrow Road.